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| Anglian Water passed thousands of pollution tests at sewage plants that weren’t carried out | Anglian Water passed thousands of pollution tests at sewage plants that weren’t carried out |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Analysis by campaign group finds utility company had highest rate of ‘no-flow’ samples of any water and sewerage firm in 2024 | Analysis by campaign group finds utility company had highest rate of ‘no-flow’ samples of any water and sewerage firm in 2024 |
| The water firm Anglian Water passed thousands of pollution tests at its sewage plants that were never carried out. | The water firm Anglian Water passed thousands of pollution tests at its sewage plants that were never carried out. |
| Operational data reveals how more than 6,000 pollution tests from 2015 to 2024 could not be carried out under a controversial self-monitoring regime because it was reported there was no outflow of treated sewage from the plants. | Operational data reveals how more than 6,000 pollution tests from 2015 to 2024 could not be carried out under a controversial self-monitoring regime because it was reported there was no outflow of treated sewage from the plants. |
| In some cases the flows from the sewage plants stopped for just an hour or two, meaning samples could not be taken. But despite no test being carried out, the sewage plants could be reported under the guidelines as complying with environmental permits. | In some cases the flows from the sewage plants stopped for just an hour or two, meaning samples could not be taken. But despite no test being carried out, the sewage plants could be reported under the guidelines as complying with environmental permits. |
| An analysis by Peter Hammond, from the campaign group Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (Wasp), has found Anglian Water had the highest number of “no-flow” samples of any water and sewerage company in England and Wales over the decade. | An analysis by Peter Hammond, from the campaign group Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (Wasp), has found Anglian Water had the highest number of “no-flow” samples of any water and sewerage company in England and Wales over the decade. |
| In 2024, the water company reported 496 “no-flows”, or 5.9% of all samples, according to the Wasp analysis. Hammond said the Environment Agency had not properly audited the reasons for no-flows. “Anglian Water needs to explain why there has been a drop in the flow of treated sewage in these cases when someone has come to take a sample, when there have been no similar drops a few days before or a few days after,” he said. | In 2024, the water company reported 496 “no-flows”, or 5.9% of all samples, according to the Wasp analysis. Hammond said the Environment Agency had not properly audited the reasons for no-flows. “Anglian Water needs to explain why there has been a drop in the flow of treated sewage in these cases when someone has come to take a sample, when there have been no similar drops a few days before or a few days after,” he said. |
| Anglian Water officials say they investigated instances of no-flows raised last week by the Observer and said there were legitimate reasons for the lack of flow of treated sewage. Testers operate independently of sewage plant operational teams, with the sampling regime independently audited, says the company. | Anglian Water officials say they investigated instances of no-flows raised last week by the Observer and said there were legitimate reasons for the lack of flow of treated sewage. Testers operate independently of sewage plant operational teams, with the sampling regime independently audited, says the company. |
| It says its coverage is the largest geographical area of any water firm with many small rural plants that may have little flow from the catchment at certain times of the day, and which are also vulnerable to flooding. | It says its coverage is the largest geographical area of any water firm with many small rural plants that may have little flow from the catchment at certain times of the day, and which are also vulnerable to flooding. |
| The Environment Agency has now tightened its rules from 1 January to require water firms to reschedule samples if there is no flow at the time of treated sewage. Water companies will also have to document when and why no-flows have occurred and make this available for subsequent audit by the agency. | The Environment Agency has now tightened its rules from 1 January to require water firms to reschedule samples if there is no flow at the time of treated sewage. Water companies will also have to document when and why no-flows have occurred and make this available for subsequent audit by the agency. |
| The self-monitoring regime has received criticism that it has allowed water firms “to mark their own homework”. Hammond will present evidence this week of failures in the operator self-monitoring system to Sir Jon Cunliffe, who is conducting a review into the water industry. The campaign group Wasp is calling for the tests to be conducted by an independent body paid for by the water industry. | The self-monitoring regime has received criticism that it has allowed water firms “to mark their own homework”. Hammond will present evidence this week of failures in the operator self-monitoring system to Sir Jon Cunliffe, who is conducting a review into the water industry. The campaign group Wasp is calling for the tests to be conducted by an independent body paid for by the water industry. |
| In October 2019, Ofwat said that Southern Water would pay £126m in penalties and rebates for breaches of licence conditions, including creating “artificial no-flows” at sewage plants on some sampling days. Once Southern Water was placed under investigation, the number of no-flows it reported fell from 124 in 2017 to 12 in 2018. | In October 2019, Ofwat said that Southern Water would pay £126m in penalties and rebates for breaches of licence conditions, including creating “artificial no-flows” at sewage plants on some sampling days. Once Southern Water was placed under investigation, the number of no-flows it reported fell from 124 in 2017 to 12 in 2018. |
| The nine water and sewerage firms in England have been self-monitoring potential pollution at their own treatment works since 2009, in addition to other checks done by the Environment Agency. The water firms can face financial penalties of millions of pounds for poor environmental performance, which includes compliance with sewage plant permits. The Environment Agency thresholds for compliance for sewage works are strict with the top ranking – a “green status” – at 99% compliance or above of the permit condition, and “red status” at 98% compliance or below. The samples are tested for the levels of pollutants, such as ammonia. It means a few bad results can have a highly significant impact on a water firm’s performance. | The nine water and sewerage firms in England have been self-monitoring potential pollution at their own treatment works since 2009, in addition to other checks done by the Environment Agency. The water firms can face financial penalties of millions of pounds for poor environmental performance, which includes compliance with sewage plant permits. The Environment Agency thresholds for compliance for sewage works are strict with the top ranking – a “green status” – at 99% compliance or above of the permit condition, and “red status” at 98% compliance or below. The samples are tested for the levels of pollutants, such as ammonia. It means a few bad results can have a highly significant impact on a water firm’s performance. |
| One of the no-flow incidents found by Hammond involved a sewage plant at Hitchin in Hertfordshire where the sewage flow abruptly stopped shortly before a tester arrived at 11.30am on 10 May 2021 to take a sample. It is understood the flow of treated sewage was halted when an empty tank was being refilled. | One of the no-flow incidents found by Hammond involved a sewage plant at Hitchin in Hertfordshire where the sewage flow abruptly stopped shortly before a tester arrived at 11.30am on 10 May 2021 to take a sample. It is understood the flow of treated sewage was halted when an empty tank was being refilled. |
| At another works at Braunston in Northamptonshire, a no-flow was recorded at 9.09am on 23 November 2022, even though the works appeared to be close to capacity. Officials say the reported no-flow was because of a submerged sampling point. | At another works at Braunston in Northamptonshire, a no-flow was recorded at 9.09am on 23 November 2022, even though the works appeared to be close to capacity. Officials say the reported no-flow was because of a submerged sampling point. |
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| At Coningsby sewage works in Lincolnshire, the flow of treated sewage stopped for less than an hour on 25 June 2021 during which time the tester arrived and was unable to take a sample. Officials say a reading taken the day before and after the sampler visit by the operator confirmed the plant was compliant with the permit. | At Coningsby sewage works in Lincolnshire, the flow of treated sewage stopped for less than an hour on 25 June 2021 during which time the tester arrived and was unable to take a sample. Officials say a reading taken the day before and after the sampler visit by the operator confirmed the plant was compliant with the permit. |
| An Anglian Water spokesperson said: “There are wholly legitimate reasons for the number of ‘no-flow’ samples we see in our region. These are linked to the size of our asset base – given we cover the largest geographic region in the UK – and the nature of our many rural catchments and small water recycling works, which often have no flows as standard at various times of day. | |
| ”We have a zero tolerance for malpractice,” said the spokesperson. “All our operational staff undertake rigorous compliance training and our sampling programme is managed independently, so the timing and location of sampling visits are not disclosed to our operational teams, to ensure independence and impartiality. In addition our entire sampling process is externally certified, and also independently audited by the Environment Agency.” | |
| An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We are increasing regulation for operator self-monitoring tests and since the start of this year water companies must reschedule samples if there is a no-flow event. | An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “We are increasing regulation for operator self-monitoring tests and since the start of this year water companies must reschedule samples if there is a no-flow event. |
| “We also investigate no-flow samples where there is a risk to the environment or if we suspect that an offence has occurred. As well as this, we are carrying out our largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water companies, recruiting up to 500 additional staff, increasing compliance checks and quadrupling the number of water company inspections by March next year.” It says no-flows can often occur for legitimate reasons, and the water firms’ average proportion of no-flow samples of about 5% corresponds with no-flow rates when the agency took the samples. | “We also investigate no-flow samples where there is a risk to the environment or if we suspect that an offence has occurred. As well as this, we are carrying out our largest ever criminal investigation into potential widespread non-compliance by water companies, recruiting up to 500 additional staff, increasing compliance checks and quadrupling the number of water company inspections by March next year.” It says no-flows can often occur for legitimate reasons, and the water firms’ average proportion of no-flow samples of about 5% corresponds with no-flow rates when the agency took the samples. |
| A Defra spokesperson said: “This government has wasted no time in placing water companies under special measures through the water bill, which includes new powers to ban the payment of bonuses for polluting water bosses and bring criminal charges against lawbreakers. We’re also carrying out a full review of the water sector to shape further legislation that will transform how our water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.” | A Defra spokesperson said: “This government has wasted no time in placing water companies under special measures through the water bill, which includes new powers to ban the payment of bonuses for polluting water bosses and bring criminal charges against lawbreakers. We’re also carrying out a full review of the water sector to shape further legislation that will transform how our water system works and clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.” |
| This article was amended on 26 January 2025 to include the full response that had been provided by Anglian Water prior to publication. |
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